Lightning sets wheat field on fire; no one hurt

By Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 06:34 PM.

FORT BARNWELL— Lightning from a Sunday afternoon storm struck and set afire a wheat field off Jonestown Road near N.C. 55.

Although structures were endangered by the 3-to-5-acre fire, Fort Barnwell Fire and Rescue Chief Greg Milligan said the blaze was contained by area firefighters before it spread to a nearby mobile home.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Ira Whitford, assistant EMS director for Craven County, said the storm was very active in the northern and western portions of the county, pouring hard rain for at least two hours from Ernul to Cove City.

He said a traffic accident on U.S. 70 near the Cove City overpass and another one in the Jasper area, neither with serious injuries, may have been related to the storm.

FORT BARNWELL— Lightning from a Sunday afternoon storm struck and set afire a wheat field off Jonestown Road near N.C. 55.

Although structures were endangered by the 3-to-5-acre fire, Fort Barnwell Fire and Rescue Chief Greg Milligan said the blaze was contained by area firefighters before it spread to a nearby mobile home.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Ira Whitford, assistant EMS director for Craven County, said the storm was very active in the northern and western portions of the county, pouring hard rain for at least two hours from Ernul to Cove City.

He said a traffic accident on U.S. 70 near the Cove City overpass and another one in the Jasper area, neither with serious injuries, may have been related to the storm.